GOVERNMENT
OF JAPAN EXTENDS US$300,820 GRANT FOR

GRASSROOTS
PROJECTS

New Delhi: 11th February
2003

1.The
Embassy of Japan in India, under its scheme
‘Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects
(GAGP)’, today decided to extend grant
assistance totaling US$300,820 (approximately
equivalent to Rs.1.41crore) to five Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) to support grassroots
projects undertaken by them. The following
NGOs and projects are receiving the Grants:

(i)Deepalaya was
established in 1979 to identify and work
with economically and socially deprived
children so that they become better citizens
of the society.To pursue their mission, Deepalaya has been running several
formal and informal education centers,
vocational training centers, etc., to enable
them realize there potential.

The
Embassy would provide a grant amount of
US$78,854 to Deepalaya for the construction
of a new building that will be used as
hostel cum rehabilitation center for 200
girls.

(ii)Disha was
established in 1992 and, since its inception,
it has undertaken various initiatives like
education, skill improvement, and formation
of Self Help Groups (SHGs), etc., to help
women living in slums or in rural areas
attain self-reliance.

To
augment their efforts, the Embassy will
extend a grant of US$18,502 for purchasing
equipments necessary for vocational training
courses in five slums of Delhi.

(iii)Eye Research
Centre Society was set up in 1986
to work for restoration of vision by
providing specialized and advanced medical
care facilities to the weaker section
of the society, including the needy poor
residing in rural slums and tribal areas
of Rajasthan.

With
the Japanese grant of US$71,846, the
Society will purchase one mobile medicare
van and other ophthalmic equipments that
will enable them offer their medical
services to larger number of people in
Rajasthan.

(iv)Jal Bhagirathi
Foundation was set up last year and
its prime focus is on the construction
of water harvesting structures and weaves
around it other important aspects like
empowerment of villagers especially women.

The Embassy will provide them a grant of
US$79,321 for constructing water- harvesting
structures like anicut, johad and talab in
the drought affected districts of Rajasthan.

(v)Prayas has
been running various programmes for underprivileged
children, including a special vocational
and educational school for the mentally
challenged children, for the last six years.

The
Embassy is extending a grant of US$52,297
to Prayas for completing the construction
of a School-cum-Vocational training center
for the underprivileged children in Jaipur,
Rajasthan.

2.The
Signing Ceremony to formalize the arrangements
is scheduled to take place at 4:00pm on
Tuesday, 11th February 2003,
at the Embassy of Japan, between Ambassador
Akira Hayashi and the respective representatives
of the above NGOs.

3.The scheme of "Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects" was
introduced by the Government of Japan
in 1989, to provide timely assistance
directly to the activities of Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs), research institutions,
hospitals and local government, towards
promoting welfare of the people in developing
countries. Projects eligible for the
grant assistance include such fields
as primary healthcare, primary education,
care of the handicapped people, poverty
alleviation, enhancing status of women,
public welfare, environment protection,
etc.The
Embassy of Japan and the Consulates General
of Japan in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai
are in charge of this scheme in their
respective regions. Last year, under
this scheme, the Government of Japan
provided assistance totaling US$3,138,905
(15 Crore Rupees approximately) to 52
diverse projects in different parts of
India.